Agent Darren Ferris is having an interesting night. After telling Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet that client Sam Bennett would like a change of scenery, now Ferris has told Salim Nadim Valji of TSN that Victor Mete has requested a trade away from the Montreal Canadiens.
Though it seems clear, Ferris clarified exactly why Mete wants out in a comment to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic:
There isn’t opportunity to get in the lineup. It’s best for both the player and the team.
It’s important to note that though Ferris has been clear with reporters, GM Marc Bergevin tells Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports that the Canadiens have not yet received a trade request from Mete or his agent. In fact, Bergevin clarified his position even further to LeBrun, telling him “not true and not trading him.”
While it certainly would be beneficial for Mete to get out of Montreal since he hasn’t been able to get into a single game this season, moving the 22-year-old defenseman doesn’t necessarily make a lot of sense for the Canadiens. Just as the Pittsburgh Penguins—who look like they may have lost Kris Letang as well this evening—about having defensive depth and they’ll tell you don’t throw away an NHL-capable option like Mete just because he wants out.
The fact is, Mete is currently seventh of a deep defensive group that received reinforcements this offseason. Alexander Romanov has looked like a star in the early part of his rookie season, while Joel Edmundson was a top target of Bergevin; acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes and signed to a four-year deal before he hit the open market.
Mete is an injury away from being a full-time member of the Canadiens blue line once again, but obviously, Ferris believes his client would be better off somewhere else. A fourth-round pick in 2016 it didn’t take long for Mete to jump right into an NHL lineup, making his debut in 2017-18 and playing 171 games over the last three seasons. He carries a cap hit of just $735K and will be a restricted free agent again when the season is complete.
Sorry victor can’t trade you now….Habs gotta keep him…solid nhl defence man who will get his chance soon… great start to season for Habs, but Claude has to figure out how to get him in the lineup….
All these kids thinking they hold the cards and demanding out of their contracts. And maybe they do.
I don’t think Mete is great or anything but he could get out of the press box if he were on a few other teams. Can’t blame him for wanting to play.
Ownership (in all sports) have brought this on themselves.
By treating most players as interchangeable, replaceable, parts (A business-first, rather than team-first, approach imo.), they have given players no choice but to approach these situations in a similarly businesslike manner. Players have no leverage without “brand power” and don’t get that without being, and doing a good job, on-stage. Sometimes, a change-of-venue is a necessary part of that.
Imagine being Mete: Even working hard to be ready for an opportunity, he’s basically reduced to expecting/hoping/praying someone ahead of him on the depth chart has an issue.
That said, I will always be of the opinion that a player under contract should be professional about it and honor the contract to the best of his ability. That would include making these requests of management but not publicizing it.
To paraphrase a former Blue Jay: If you don’t like it, play better!
I think this is more of a i want to be here, but i want to play more type thing.